Multi-generational Family Travel: Club Med Sandpiper

For a multi-generational family vacation, Club Med Sandpiper in Port Saint Lucie, Florida is an option worth considering. We found we were one of many families spending the holidays together at the resort.

Pluses:

• Large rooms

• Lots of included activities to keep family members of all ages busy and entertained

• Range of activities from super active like sailing and trapeze to equally fun, but less adrenaline provoking mini-golf, bocce, and ping pong.

• Relatively compact and easy to navigate resort

• Plentiful food.  Marketplace Café has an elaborate buffet with a host of options:  carving station, salad bar, pasta bar, vegetarian options, grilled fish, children’s selections, and yummy desserts.

• Friendly staff

• All-inclusive, so you know the cost of your vacation up front

• Spa services are first rate

Minuses:

• Rooms are dated and ours were in need of repair (leaky faucet, broken toilet paper holder, tub that was very slow to drain)

• While food is plentiful, it can get to be repetitive

• Yes, all-inclusive, but still quite expensive

Tips:

This is not an ocean-front resort.  In fact, you aren't even close to the ocean, so if that is what you are looking for, look somewhere else.

If you have a large group, call ahead to reserve a table in the dining area for dinner.  They honored ours for the entire stay. (Thank you, Karen.)

Getting reservations at the table-service restaurant, Riverside, is extremely difficult and in contrast to the variety offered in the buffet-style main dining area, the menu at Riverside is very limited - 3 starters, 3 entrees, 3 desserts.  That's it.  Still worth doing it for one night.

There are a very limited number of ADA compliant accessible rooms, so if you need one, you must book way in advance.

Book a spa service!  These are extra, but so worth it.  The spa staff were well-trained and some of the best we’ve encountered.

Some of the extras like spa services, tubing, private trapeze, and the excursions book up quickly.  If you want to do any of these, make your reservations the first or second day of your visit.

The weather in December is variable.  Make sure you’ve packed enough sweatshirts, board games, and a rain jacket to make the rainy weather enjoyable.

Indulge in the white chocolate bread!  You will not be disappointed!